Conservatives announce Brighton Pavilion MP contenders (From The Argus)

Can you let me know how many of them attended public school?

First you had Blair's Babes. Now we've got Cam's Toffs.

Could be an interesting three-way fight. How many of these candidates and prospective candidates live in the constituency?

So the candidate will be decided by the number that health and safety regulations allow to go into the Grand's room?

This article gives no details about three of the candidates apart from their names.

What happens if the public chooses the worst candidate?

Christophe Hawtree wrote:
So the candidate will be decided by the number that health and safety regulations allow to go into the Grand's room? This article gives no details about three of the candidates apart from their names. What happens if the public chooses the worst candidate?

What do you mean by "worst candidate", do you mean in your eyes?
How can you tell ?
Sometimes one can only tell after a many decades - Winston Churchill who changed "sides" twice might at one time been considered poor but come WW2
This is an attempt to get people involved in Politics and that must be commended

Fercri Sakes wrote:
Can you let me know how many of them attended public school? First you had Blair's Babes. Now we've got Cam's Toffs.

How many from the Nu Labour ranks also attended private schools as well? Including Blair himself (the liar-in-chief) of course!

Tye wrote:

Christophe Hawtree wrote:
So the candidate will be decided by the number that health and safety
regulations allow to go into the Grand's room? This article gives no
details about three of the candidates apart from their names. What
happens if the public chooses the worst candidate?

What do
you mean by "worst candidate", do you mean in your eyes?
How can you tell ?
Sometimes one can only tell after a many decades - Winston Churchill
who changed "sides" twice might at one time been considered poor but
come WW2
This is an attempt to get people involved in Politics and that must be
commended

But it is clear that the Conservatives are pushing three of the candidates, and just the names of the others. See article. No details at all. So the party chiefs might be a bit miffed if the public (or Grand Hotel part of it) chooses one of the second-string candidates.

I suspect most Pavilion residents will not know about this primary.

deltaP wrote:

Fercri Sakes wrote:
Can you let me know how many of them attended public school? First you had Blair's Babes. Now we've got Cam's Toffs.

How many from the Nu Labour ranks also attended private schools as well? Including Blair himself (the liar-in-chief) of course!

Tthe proportion of Conservatives who went to fee-paying establishments peaked in 1966 – at 81% – and has been coming down ever since, to a current figure of 59%. In the Labour party, an altogether smaller figure has held steady: after the elections of 1959 and 2005, 18% of the party's MPs came from private-school backgrounds.

Fercri Sakes wrote:

deltaP wrote:

Fercri Sakes wrote: Can you let me know how many of them attended public school? First you had Blair's Babes. Now we've got Cam's Toffs.

How many from the Nu Labour ranks also attended private schools as well? Including Blair himself (the liar-in-chief) of course!

Tthe proportion of Conservatives who went to fee-paying establishments peaked in 1966 – at 81% – and has been coming down ever since, to a current figure of 59%. In the Labour party, an altogether smaller figure has held steady: after the elections of 1959 and 2005, 18% of the party's MPs came from private-school backgrounds.

A surprisingly large proportion of that 18% seem to "float to top" in terms of ministerial positions, however.

Harriet Harman – St Paul’s Girls’ School
Lord Mandelson – Hendon County Grammar and St Catherine’s Oxford
Ed Balls – Nottingham High private school; Keble, Oxford; and Harvard, USA
David Milliband – Oxford and MIT
Hilary Benn – Westminster Under School, private
Yvette Cooper – Balliol, Oxford
Tessa Jowell – St Margaret’s private school
Shaun Woodward – Bristol Grammar; Jesus, Cambridge and Harvard
Gordon Brown – Kirkaldy Grammar and Edinburgh
Alastair Darling – Loretto private school
Peter Hain – Emanuel private school and Pretoria Boys private
Andrew Adonis – Kingham Hill private school
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – Royal Forest Of Dean Grammar
Ben Bradshaw – Thorp St Andrew Grammar
Alan Johnston – Sloane Grammar
Jack Straw – Brentwood Grammar

In total, of the Tory shadow cabinet, 10 attended state school and 13 private schools

Mr Pickwick wrote:
Harriet Harman – St Paul’s Girls’ School
Lord Mandelson – Hendon County Grammar and St Catherine’s Oxford
Ed Balls – Nottingham High private school; Keble, Oxford; and Harvard, USA
David Milliband – Oxford and MIT
Hilary Benn – Westminster Under School, private
Yvette Cooper – Balliol, Oxford
Tessa Jowell – St Margaret’s private school
Shaun Woodward – Bristol Grammar; Jesus, Cambridge and Harvard
Gordon Brown – Kirkaldy Grammar and Edinburgh
Alastair Darling – Loretto private school
Peter Hain – Emanuel private school and Pretoria Boys private
Andrew Adonis – Kingham Hill private school
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – Royal Forest Of Dean Grammar
Ben Bradshaw – Thorp St Andrew Grammar
Alan Johnston – Sloane Grammar
Jack Straw – Brentwood Grammar

In total, of the Tory shadow cabinet, 10 attended state school and 13 private schools

Okay, if I've added that up right:

Labour Cabinet:
6 private school - 10 state school

Tory Shadow Cabinet:
13 private school - 10 state school

I would rather a well educated candidate run a constituency a city or the country than any state educated chav, and it seems gordon browns education left him unable to spell.

I see that the Argus has now added some details about the other candidates but as most people read stories when they first appear, these will remain in the public mind as the second-string candidates. It looks as if all this is being stage-managed by the party minders.

Christophe Hawtree wrote:
I see that the Argus has now added some details about the other candidates but as most people read stories when they first appear, these will remain in the public mind as the second-string candidates. It looks as if all this is being stage-managed by the party minders.

No chance at all then that the party "minders" provided the Argus with the details of all the candidates but they only chose to publish details of a few of them?

bug eye wrote:
I would rather a well educated candidate run a constituency a city or the country than any state educated chav, and it seems gordon browns education left him unable to spell.

I think that was his eyesight.

At the end of the day that soldier's mum's anguish is being used by Rupert Murdoch for his own benefit.

ultiali wrote:

Christophe Hawtree wrote:
I see that the Argus has now added some details about the other
candidates but as most people read stories when they first appear,
these will remain in the public mind as the second-string candidates.
It looks as if all this is being stage-managed by the party
minders.

No chance at all then that the party "minders"
provided the Argus with the details of all the candidates but they only
chose to publish details of a few of them?

But how did the Argus know which ones to highlight?

I doubt that most Pavilion residents will know about this process and as it's a small room it will be filled with Conservatives, so it amounts to the usual selection process but with a public-relations spin to it.

They could also have chosen their candidate by a series of the duels which the party now favours.

Andrew Wealls is the ONLY local candidate.

http://www.andrewwea
lls.co.uk/

Well (state) educated, passionate, articulate and the best choice for Brighton Pavilion.

Fercri Sakes wrote:

Mr Pickwick wrote:
Harriet Harman – St Paul’s Girls’ School
Lord Mandelson – Hendon County Grammar and St Catherine’s Oxford
Ed Balls – Nottingham High private school; Keble, Oxford; and Harvard, USA
David Milliband – Oxford and MIT
Hilary Benn – Westminster Under School, private
Yvette Cooper – Balliol, Oxford
Tessa Jowell – St Margaret’s private school
Shaun Woodward – Bristol Grammar; Jesus, Cambridge and Harvard
Gordon Brown – Kirkaldy Grammar and Edinburgh
Alastair Darling – Loretto private school
Peter Hain – Emanuel private school and Pretoria Boys private
Andrew Adonis – Kingham Hill private school
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – Royal Forest Of Dean Grammar
Ben Bradshaw – Thorp St Andrew Grammar
Alan Johnston – Sloane Grammar
Jack Straw – Brentwood Grammar

In total, of the Tory shadow cabinet, 10 attended state school and 13 private schools

Okay, if I've added that up right:

Labour Cabinet:
6 private school - 10 state school

Tory Shadow Cabinet:
13 private school - 10 state school

Yes, that's correct but perhaps more interesting is that of the 10 Labour state school educated, seven went to grammar schools, ie so-called elitist schools that the Labour party has been trying to abolish completely for the last 40 years. Talk about pulling up the ladder...

Christophe Hawtree wrote:

ultiali wrote:

Christophe Hawtree wrote: I see that the Argus has now added some details about the other candidates but as most people read stories when they first appear, these will remain in the public mind as the second-string candidates. It looks as if all this is being stage-managed by the party minders.

No chance at all then that the party "minders" provided the Argus with the details of all the candidates but they only chose to publish details of a few of them?

But how did the Argus know which ones to highlight? I doubt that most Pavilion residents will know about this process and as it's a small room it will be filled with Conservatives, so it amounts to the usual selection process but with a public-relations spin to it. They could also have chosen their candidate by a series of the duels which the party now favours.

Because they are jounalists?

Christophe Hawtree wrote:

ultiali wrote:

Christophe Hawtree wrote: I see that the Argus has now added some details about the other candidates but as most people read stories when they first appear, these will remain in the public mind as the second-string candidates. It looks as if all this is being stage-managed by the party minders.

No chance at all then that the party "minders" provided the Argus with the details of all the candidates but they only chose to publish details of a few of them?

But how did the Argus know which ones to highlight? I doubt that most Pavilion residents will know about this process and as it's a small room it will be filled with Conservatives, so it amounts to the usual selection process but with a public-relations spin to it. They could also have chosen their candidate by a series of the duels which the party now favours.

Because they are jounalists?

Mr Pickwick wrote:

Fercri Sakes wrote:

Mr Pickwick wrote:
Harriet Harman – St Paul’s Girls’ School
Lord Mandelson – Hendon County Grammar and St Catherine’s Oxford
Ed Balls – Nottingham High private school; Keble, Oxford; and Harvard, USA
David Milliband – Oxford and MIT
Hilary Benn – Westminster Under School, private
Yvette Cooper – Balliol, Oxford
Tessa Jowell – St Margaret’s private school
Shaun Woodward – Bristol Grammar; Jesus, Cambridge and Harvard
Gordon Brown – Kirkaldy Grammar and Edinburgh
Alastair Darling – Loretto private school
Peter Hain – Emanuel private school and Pretoria Boys private
Andrew Adonis – Kingham Hill private school
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – Royal Forest Of Dean Grammar
Ben Bradshaw – Thorp St Andrew Grammar
Alan Johnston – Sloane Grammar
Jack Straw – Brentwood Grammar

In total, of the Tory shadow cabinet, 10 attended state school and 13 private schools

Okay, if I've added that up right:

Labour Cabinet:
6 private school - 10 state school

Tory Shadow Cabinet:
13 private school - 10 state school

Yes, that's correct but perhaps more interesting is that of the 10 Labour state school educated, seven went to grammar schools, ie so-called elitist schools that the Labour party has been trying to abolish completely for the last 40 years. Talk about pulling up the ladder...

Yes, you're right. Unless they bring back grammar schools we'll get less and less state educated ministers.

Meritocracy should have a place in left wing politics.

I was educated at a local comprehensive in Hillingdon where I am currently a governor. http://www.queensmea
dschool.org.uk/

From there I went to London University (www.rhul.ac.uk) and in 1994 started a career in retail working for Marks & Spencer and Argos amongst others. No Tory Toff here I am happy to say.

I have been a local Councillor in West London since 1998 and applied for Pavilion because I have wide business links in the city and from my experience in working on the election campaign in 2001 with David Gold.

I work for a variety of clients now, including the Conservative Party, as well as charities and public and private sector organisations.

I have a house in the city and will be on the ground 7 days a week if selected. I have not been 'pushed' by anyone but myself, the Argus no doubt named me as I emailed them early on when I was shortlisted to introduce myself, they are also good journalists.

The choice at the primary on 18th November will be between six candidates with different experience and backgrounds.

I will use my eleven years experience as a senior Councillor to help me deal with local issues and work with residents and B&H Council to improve life in Pavilion and across the city. On issues like school places, elderly care, local community action and youth services I have direct experience of working to fund and run these services during my local government service.

I understand how the Council works, how to deal with central Government funding systems, how to engage local groups and residents and most of all how to deliver successful results.

I will be your local candidate as I will move my office to Pavilion as well as well as making my permanent home here, to allow me to concentrate on the campaign and be fully accessible to those I hope to serve.

I am confident that as your candidate I will win back the seat and start to make a positive difference to the lives of everyone here in Pavilion.

You can find out all about me, my background and my career at:

www.digby4pavilion.c
o.uk

You can contact me on 01273 803810 or email me on scott@digby4pavilion
.co.uk

Why are the Conservatives only offering one LOCAL candidate from the six? We've got the Green Party offering up a professional politician from the European Parliament as their General Election candidate. Labour with a candidate who only moved to Brighton because she got the plumb job of fighting a Labour-held seat. Now the Conservatives are offering just a 1 in 6 chance that a local candidate will be on the ballot paper at the General Election.

What is so wrong about having someone normal from Brighton, who understands the city, who can give Brighton the represenation that it deserves at Westminster, rather than being a pawn of central government (Labour candidate) or more interested in, as her literature states, "being the first Green MP". Surely the expenses scandals at Westminster and Brussels has proven that these non-local "professional politicians" have a self interest that is greater than that which they have for their constituents?

I personally will be voting for the Conservative's local candidate Andrew Wealls, a Brighton resident who already does sterling work with troubled teenagers in the city. That's not to say I am yet convinced to vote Conservative at the General Election, but I do think there should be at least one local person on the ballot paper!!!

well I've had a good look at all the candidates and to be honest only one has all the boxes ticked, well more than the others at least, all boxes toicked these days would be a mirracle? The supposed local candidate is about as local as Newcastle, opps that's where he's from, then London now Hove and, well he's not involved in politics at any level, whereas this Hillingdon chappie, Seaman-Digby has frorom his resume been a Councillor for a few years and a Cabinet member to boot, so lots of exp when it comes to local and national politics and by christ do we need someone in Pavillions with some teeth, the current MP well, enough said Lepper by name Lepper by nature, in fact this Government has and continues to treat us all like leppers !! So to conclude, based on googling each of the Conservative Candidates, I would have to say Scott wns hands down, so I might actually get out of my armchair and vote at this primary, interesting concept having anyone turn up and vote for a candidate, should be a good night?

dave sirey wrote:
well I've had a good look at all the candidates and to be honest only one has all the boxes ticked, well more than the others at least, all boxes toicked these days would be a mirracle? The supposed local candidate is about as local as Newcastle, opps that's where he's from, then London now Hove and, well he's not involved in politics at any level, whereas this Hillingdon chappie, Seaman-Digby has frorom his resume been a Councillor for a few years and a Cabinet member to boot, so lots of exp when it comes to local and national politics and by christ do we need someone in Pavillions with some teeth, the current MP well, enough said Lepper by name Lepper by nature, in fact this Government has and continues to treat us all like leppers !! So to conclude, based on googling each of the Conservative Candidates, I would have to say Scott wns hands down, so I might actually get out of my armchair and vote at this primary, interesting concept having anyone turn up and vote for a candidate, should be a good night?

I suspect Scott-Digby has had a hand in this post. Having looked him up, he is exactly the kind of professional politician (a long term councillor currently employed by the Conservatives in London!) that the expenses scandal has proven to be morally bankrupt! I think local people want, and deserve, more than the likes of Scott Digby!

Fercri Sakes wrote:
Can you let me know how many of them attended public school?

First you had Blair's Babes. Now we've got Cam's Toffs.

Having worked alongside Scott Seaman Digby for over 7 years in Northwood as his fellow councillor, I am always amazed by the effort, enthusiasm and energy he puts in achieve improvements to the area.

He's a caring, highly intelligent person, who communicates brilliantly with officials and constituents alike.

He will make a great MP for Brighton Pavillion!